Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-05

been known to handle dagger with the
fury of a Jael.
Country youth of this class pair off
naturally as birds mate in spring-time,
and do not appear to consider privacy in any
way essential to the plighting of their
vows. Indeed the first declaration of pref
erence, and that most priced by the recipi-
ent, is generally made in public at some
grand function de torros (bulI-fght), or in
course of those other fayorite equestrian
sports known as bull-tailing, or ell gallo,
the roosters.
What dancing and roller-skating are to
young Americans, these equestrian diver
tisements are to the boys and girls of rural
Mexico. If bull. fight is to be held any
where within radius of twenty miles, to
deprive a muchacha of going would be to
infiict upon her the severest of punish
ments, for there the gallant rancheros dis
play their proves, agility and graceful
Workmanship, and there they indicate to
all their little world who are their c0rtejds,
or sweethearts, each by laying at the bare,
brown feet of his chosen muchacha the
trophies he wins.
Bull-fghts have been so often described
that we need not enter into their details
here; but that sport called
cALLEA DE ToRRos,
Or bull-taling, can seldom be seen except
in remote rural communities. 1t is per-
formed by a number of men and boys on
horseback, who starting together at a given
signal, pursue bull which has been sud-
denly liberated on an open plain, the OBJ
ject being to see who shall first reach the
animal, catch him by the tail and throw
him to the ground. This seems an impos-
sible feat, but is easily accomplished when
one knows how that is, if one is an ex-
pert horseman and is sufficiently strong.
Having secured a firm hold of the bull s
tail, the horseman throws one leg over it,
and wheeling his horse suddenly outward,
jirks the maddened and astonished torro
off his feet when he rolls over and over in
the dust, believing with fright and pain.
When an animal is thrown, instantly the
victor whips out his omnipresent dagger
and cuts off the top of the bulls tail, with
which he gallops away in triumph as the
browning proof of his proves, and pre-
sents it to his sweetheart, who thenceforth
wears it pinned upon the bosom of her
chemise as proudly as patrician Juanita
would wear lovers flowers or diamonds
upon her satin gown.
Ell gallo is a far more revolving perform
ance, and, fortunately for the feathered
tribes, is more rarely practiced than either
of those above mentioned. In this So
called sport a rooster, or any other large
bird, is tied up by the legs (alive) to tree,
or to tall stake driven into the ground,
and his head and neck are smeared with
grease. The horsemen. starting all to-
gether in line strive to be first to reach the
rooster, to sieze it by the neck while in full
gallop, burst the thongs which secure it
and rides off with the prize. The we'll
creased head is sure to slip through the
fingers of one after another of the contest
ants, who must ride by at the top of their
speed. AS soon as one is in possession of
the bird he gallops away more furiously
than ever, pursued by all the rest, whose
object now is to wrest the trophy from
him. In the struggle that ensues, of course
the poor fowl is literally torn in pieces ;
but those who have secured the bloody
scraps present them to their c0rtjas who
joyfully receive them as tokens of love.
A muchacha who has been thus pub
licly honored, if she accepts the torn up
remains of the rooster (as she is sure to do
unless already promised to another gal
lant), is considered engaged" to the donor
for veal or woe.
Frequently no other ceremony is deemed
necessary to constitute a marriage, and on
the strength of it-without even change
of garments for the bride-they build their
jacal and settle down to housekeeping
precisely as their fathers and mothers did
before them. FANNIE B. WARD.